Track and trolley wire structure for electrically propelled carriages



M 10, 1932. 1.1. SMITH 1,858,118

TRACK AND TROLLEY WIRE STRUCTURE FOR ELECTRICALLY PROPELLED CARRIAGES Original Filed Sept. 21, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORNEYS.

May 10, 1932. .1. J. SMITH TRACK AND TROLLEY WIRE STRUCTURE FOR ELEGTRICALLY PROPELLED CARRIAGES Original Filed Sept. 21, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 10, 1932 UN [TED STATES PATENT OFFIQE,

JOSEEH J. SMITH, DECEASED; LATE J5 CAMBRIDGE, MASSAGHUSE'ETS, BY WILLIAM J1 SMITH, EXECUTOIL OE BROCKTON, MASSAGHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'EO EIRTI-LSMI IH GG MPANYZOE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPGRA'EIQN OF MASSAGHUSETTS- TRACK AN D TROLLEY STRUCTURE FOR ELEGTRICALLY PROPELLED QARRIAGES Original application filed September 21,1926, Serial N0..136,772; Divided. and this application filed June This application is adivision of pending application, apparatus for operating on spinning frames and other machines, Serial No. 136,772, filed September 21 192.

The apparatus of this pending application is mounted on an' endless track arranged above the rows of spinning frames and other machines to be operated upon, and is propelled along the track by an electric motor carried thereby which is energized through trolleys and trolley wires. In the spinning and other rooms of a mill where this apparatus is commonly used there is more or less cotton fiber, lint or similar inflammable material floating in the air and, consequently, any sparking that might occur between the trolleys and trolley wires would be objectionable. It has been found that no support for the trolley wires would be suitable which had any projection that might be engaged by the trolleys as such projection would be liable to cause sparking, it being very essential that the surfaces of the wires engaged by the trolleys shall be smooth and uninterrupted.

An object of the present invention is to provide a trolley wire and a support there for which will meet the requirements for use in connection with an apparatus of the character of the pending application, and which are of simple and cheap construction, and may be easily installed and taken down for replacement or repair.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved suspended track structure for an electrically propelled carriage.

The several features of the invention, whereby these and other objects may be at tained, will be clearly understood from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a track structure for an electrically propelled. apparatus embodying the features of the invention in their preferred form, the upper portion of such an apparatus being shown in front end elevation;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Serial No. 287,499;

Fig. 3- is a' detail sectional elevation taken on the line of Fig.2 2;

Fig; 4 is a detail view in perspective of said pending application, Ser. No: 136,172.

As shown, this apparatus is suspended from the trackby means of a flanged" W'heel or sheave 2 which is adaptedto ride on. the track and is secured on one end of a shaft 6 connected through bevel gears 8 with a vertical shaft 10. The shaft 1 0 is driven through: suitable connectionwith the shaft of an electric motor (not showni) mounted in the apparatus, the-electric motorbeing energized through trolley wires I2 and trolley shoes I4.

The improved track structure comprises a steel strip 16, to the opposite sides of which are secured sheet metal members 1 8 which have their upper edges projecting a distance above the upper edge of the strip 16 and bent outwardly and downwardly to forma substantially flat supporting surface for the carriage wheel'- 2. The lower portion of the sheet metal members 18 are bent outwardly horizontally and their downwardly, their lower edges beingsubstasntial ly in the plane of the lower edge of the strip 161 These lower portions-of themembers 18 form, with the lower portion of the strip 1 6, downward ly opening; compartments or channels for the trolley wires: 12, and preferably the side walls of: these channels are coated with insulating paint or other insulating material.

horizontal lower portion of one of the sheet metal members 18 by means of a screw or bolt 30. A tongue 32, integral with the base portion 24, extends downwardly therefrom and its lower end is provided with a substantially circular head 34 and a reduced neck portion 36. The circular head 34 is of slightly less diameter than the inner diameter of the tubular conductor 12, and the neck portion 36 is of slightly less width than the width of the slot 22, so as to permit the head 34 to be inserted through the slot 22 and then turned to position it cross-wise of the conductor with the neck portion 36 extending acrossthe slot 22. The tongue 32 is located at one side of the longitudinal center line of the block 28 so as to permit the block to be positioned against the side of the track supporting strip 16 with the conductor centrally located between the strip and the adjacent depending portion of the sheet metal member 18, and also to permit the bolt 30 to be readily inserted to secure the block in position after the tongue 32 has been inserted in the tubular conductor and turned so as to position it in holding position.

By utilizing a suitable number of these supports for each conductor, it will be apparent that the conductor may be securely held. The circular head 34, which substantially fits the inner wall of the conductor, and the neck portion 36, which is substantially the width of the slot 22, securely holds the conductor in proper position. Also, the elongated slots 22 permit the conductor to be mounted without accurate adjustment of the parts of the supports with relation to the slots in the conductor, and also they permit a cer tain amount of longitudinal movement of the conductor to take care of expansion and contraction. It will also be apparent that the parts of the supports for the conductors are well out of the path ofthe trolleys so that there is no danger of the trolleys striking them.

With this construction it will be apparent that the improved track structure is of simple, cheap and strong construction and that the downwardly opening channels formed by the lower portion of the strip 16 and strip 18 prevent the trolley wires being accidentally struck and otherwise protects them. It will also be apparent that the wires are so supported that smooth and uninterrupted surfaces are engaged by the trolleys so that there is no danger of sparking, and the wires are securely held and may be easily strung up and taken down.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, the invention permits various modifications without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A suspended track structure for an electricall driven carriage having, in combination, a supporting strip transversely arranged vertically, strips secured to opposite sides of said supporting strip having their upper edges bent outwardly to support the carriage wheels and having their lower portions bent outwardly and downwardly to provide with said supporting strip downwardly opening channels, blocks of insulating material mounted within said channels, and trolley wires secured to said blocks and located within the channels.

2. A suspended track structure for an electrically driven carriage having, in combination a supporting strip transversely arranged vertically, strips secured to, opposite sides of said supporting strip having their lower portions bent outwardly and downwardly to provide with said supporting strip downwardly opening channels, blocks of insulating material mounted within said channels, and trolley wires secured to said blocks and located within the channels.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 20th day of June, 1928.

WILLIAM J. SMITH, Executor of J oseph J. Smith, Deceased. 

